Rotary trash chopper



Mrch 29, 1949.

Filed March 25, 1944 C. R. S. SEARS Er AL ROTARY TRASH cHoPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 aad .Seri/5,11,

March 29, 1949. R s, SEARS r AL 2,465,488

ROTARY TRASH CHOPPER Filed March 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 292 1949 gli ROTARY TRASH CHOPPER Charlotte Ruby Smith Sears and Richard W. Sears, II, Evanston, Ill.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a farming implement, and its primary object is the provision of a new and improved implement for cutting up surface trash to make the same more manageable for luse as fertilizer on soil.

. Another important object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved implement embodying a plurality of cutting elements adapted for co-operation with other elements which provide a fulcrum for the cutting elements, so as to destroy surface trash and shred the trash to make it manageable for proper distribution with respect to the soil so as to fertilize the soll.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a single farming implement for picking up and shredding material such as green manure, surface trash and residue, and distributing the shredded material on the soil for fertilizing purposes.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of rotating elements which co-operate with other elements to effect a cutting action, the rotating elements having resilient characteristics and being eccentrically mounted so that the operating position may be shifted.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain selected embodiments of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detail plan view of the improved farming implement showing the same operatively connected to a tractor;

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modied form of hood with a different knife and tine arrangement; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and ,fbut

showing a different modied form of hood'with an alternate tine and knife arrangement.

The particular farming implement herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a frame I, Figs. 1 and 2, having oppositely disposed side bars 2, the forward ends of which converge inwardly, as indicated at 3,

the converging ends 3 being connected by a yoke 4. The frame I is adapted to be power driven by a prime mover 5, which in the present instance is shown as being a conventional tractor. The implement may be propelled by the tractor 5 by means of a disconnectible .pin or clevs 6 for detachably fastening the frame to the tractor.

A transverse driven, shaft 'I is mounted in suitable bearings in the side bars 2 and carries a plurality or series of disconnectible implements or elements 8, which may be in the form of knife elements 9, and co-operate with a plurality or series of fixed elements ID, Fig. 3, which act as fulcrums for the knives so as properly to sever the trash in shredded form.

The elements 8 are disconnectibly fastened to the ends I of attaching members I2 which comprise coil springs. The opposite free ends I3 of the attaching members I2 may be flattened, as indicated at I4, Fig. 3, and mounted between spaced plates or blocks I5, whereby the attaching members may be shifted radially with respect to the shaft I to effect the adjustment required or desired. Bolts I6 pass through the plates or blocks I5 and lock the attaching members I2 securely to the transverse shaft 1, which is preferably provided with non-circular portions where the assembly is to be locked to the shaft.

The shaft 'I has a sprocket wheel II xed thereto, which is driven by a chain I 8 passing over a sprocket I 9 on a second driven shaft 2l). A bevel gear 2l xed to the shaft 20 meshes with an inter-meshing bevel gear 22 on the longitudinal driven shaft 23, Fig. 1.,.f The shaft 23 may be driven by apower take-off 24 of the tractor 5 by means of a driving connection or clevis arrangement 25. The tractor 5,'--thereforeQf-not only propels.,.the'himplement.butalso provides a v source "91 poweljyfor rotating".` the elements=, 8.

Powerffromithefjtrector 5 therefore drivesf the shaftA If andgthe imnlementSlffl-iin..a counterclockwise direction. as indicated' by 'the' directional arrows in Fig. 3. v I j The co-opera'ting elements v are'c cumfer entially Varranged about the e;,oi' agzhoodor housing 26 which houses or covers the driven implements 8 whichare propelledtby the driven shaft 1. These elements Inma clude/fg springy or resilient part 27 and are fastened toa shiftable supporting bracket ,28.5.1311he' bracket 28 is eccentrically mounted upon and shiftable about the shaft 1 and is arranged inside of the hood or housing 26. The elements I co-operate with the implements 8 for causing surface trash, green manure, and such other fertilizer as may be on the top of the soil, properly to be cut up and shredded and then distributed on the surface of the ground.

The implements 8, 8, which are relatively hook-shaped, are indicated as having relatively sharp cutting edges 28, Fig. 3. The elements 8, 3, may also be relatively sharp pointed, as shown, and are for the purpose of carrying surface trash and other material upwardly into the hood and into engagement with the elements I8, whereupon the knife edges 29 will cut and shred the material.A The shaft 1 is adapted to rotate at a relatively high speed and, therefore, the material which is picked up from the ground by the implements 8 is cut and discharged out of the rear end 3|) of the hood or housing 26. Fast rotation of the elements 9 not only acts as a conveyor and a cutter, but also has a certain blower effect. thereby definitely insuring that the material picked up by the implements or elements 8 will be shredded and discharged out of the rear end 38 of the housing.

The attaching members I2 for the elements 9 are adapted for adjustment so as to obtain the proper relative position of the implements 8 with Also, the backing or fulcrum-acting elements I0 are adjustable with respect to the elements 8 because of the shiftable mounting of the supporting brackets 28, whereby there is effected proper co-operation of the rotating elements or implements 8 and the stationary elements i0. The elements 8 and i0 each may have spring moimtings, as shown, so as to prevent damage which would likely result should relatively large pieces of material be picked up by the members 8. or should the implement be used in stony or rocky soil.

The housing 28 may be supported in any conventicnal manner, such as by attachment to a part of the implement frame, and the bracket 28 may be eccentrically shifted within the housing 26 by means of a shifting lever 3| secured to the bracket 28. The shifting lever 3| includes a locking bar 32 which is adapted to fit into spaced notches 33 formed in a plate 34 on the hood 25. Eccentric shifting of the bracket 28 is therefore effected by merely shifting the lever 3|. The bracket 28 is maintained in its shifted position when the locking bar 32 on the lever 3| is received in a proper notch 33. The elements I0, while resiliently mounted, are normally stationary. However, they are adapted to be adjustably mounted on the brackets 28. It is preferable that there be two sets of stationary elements with respect to one set of rotary elements 8 so that the material as it is picked up will be chopped between the elements 8 extending between pairs of stationary elements I0. However, there may be one set of elements I8 for each two sets of elements 8. The elements 8 are spaced apart transversely and are adapted to receive trash and carry the trash up to the eleand parallel supports 31 may be operatively iastened to the transverse shaft 38 to support a rearwardly Vdisposed roller 88. Operating lever mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 39 co-operates with a segment rack 48 to eiiect raising and lowering of the frame I, whereby vertical adjustment of the implements i0 'may be maintained.

During operation, and after the bracket 2l is in the proper desired position, and the lever mechanism 33 is adjusted'. and the shaft l is rotating while being translated, the implements l will pick up surface trash and carry it into the housing 28 where it will be chopped up and shredded by the element or implement knives I, 9 as the trash engages the elements Il. The elements i8 act as a backing or fulcrum with which the cutting knives 3 on the element 8 cooperate. The material picked up by the members 8 in co-operation with the members I8 is cut by the knife edges 23, after which time the chopped or shredded material is conveyed to the rearward part of the housing and is expelled out of the discharge end I8. The implements I are also adapted to dig into the soil to cultivate the upper surface of the soil, the depth of soil penetrationV depending upon the adjustable setting provided.

The elements 8 and I0 may have their positions reversed, if desired, as shown in Fig. 4, or they may be arranged in alternate position, as shown in Fig. 5. The invention contemplates the distribution or arrangement of the elements 8 and lll as desired or required.

The elements I0 are shown in Fig. 4 as being provided with sharp cutting edges 4|, whereupon the elements I0 act as knives or shearing elements which co-operate with the elements 8 which are merely in the form of pick-up tines 42. The tines 42, Fig. 4, which may be relatively sharp pointed as indicated at 43, may act merely as pick-up and conveyor elements for forcing the surface trash, green manure, or other debris through the knife edges 4| to eii'ect the cutting operation.

In Fig. 5 the elements I0 may be arranged in series of either knives 4| or co-operating fulcrum elements 44, and the' elements 8 may comprise alternate tine conveying members 42 or knives 9 having sharp cutting edges 28.

In some instances it may be desirable and practical to cover the bottom rear end of the housing 26 with a plate 45 and provide a rear expelling or discharge opening 46. Fig. 4. The housing 26 mayalso be constructed in the manner shown in Fig. 5, wherein the lower rear edge of the housing is cut away to provide a discharge opening 46 for discharging the shredded material on a pan or other receptacle 41. The pan 41 may be made removable and may be supported by suitable brackets 48. The brackets 48 may be connected to the hood or housing, as indicated at 49, Fig. 5, and the receptacle 41 may be fastened to the lower end of the brackets 48, as indicated at 50, Fig. 5. Should the receptacle construction 41 be employed, it may be desirable to employ some auxiliary mechanism for continuously sweeping, brushing or otherwise expelling the shredded or chopped material from the pan 41.

The farming implement herein described not only contemplates the picking up and shredding of a quantity of surface trash or other surface material, but also includes means for operating on or into the soil. Such material which is not or elements 8 pick up some of the trash and deliver it to the members or elements I where it is shredded. The shredded material is then discharged out of the hood 26 onto the soil or otherwise discharged to a predetermined location, such as on the receptacle 41, Fig. 5, where it may be distributed by auxiliary means, not shown. Material on the ground, which is not picked up by the members or elements 8, is incorporated into the soil by the action of those elements, in contact with the soil or by penetration of the soil. The working-in of the material, which is not picked up, also provides for soil fertilization. Of

course, the shredded material which is capable of being distributed on the soil is likewise for soil fertilization.

The surface trash herein referred to may be corn stalks or other debris, green manure, or any other substance capable for use as a fertilizer, whether the substance be applied purposely on the soil or otherwise, and the term hereby employed is to be applied in the broadest sense.

The invention provides a farming implement which is extremely efiicient in use in that it causes all surface trash to be conveyed to cutters where it is shredded and chopped to make it mo-re manageable in soil cultivation. Also, the invention provides an implement which will shred and chop positively the surface trash and debris and re-deposit it in shredded form on top of the soil where it acts as a fertilizer. If desired, the

implements 8 may be set so as to engage and dig into the soil a predetermined distance to effect soil cultivation. The invention also contemplates means for varying the relative position of the implements 8 with respect to the implements lll regardless ofv whether the implements 8 or l0 are shifted. The implement is constructed of durable material so as to withstand the usage intended, and thespring mounting of the elements 8 and I0 prevents breakage when the implement is used in extremely hard or rocky material. The spring mounting also relieves the mechanism from severe shocks and is capable for use on any type of soil. The elements 8 and i0, whetherthey be in the form of tines or knives, cause definitely the material to be thoroughly chopped `up and shredded without mixing the trash with the soil, a condition which would not exist if the elements 8 were to operate on the trash against the ground instead of against the fulcrum elements herein provided. The shiftable mountings of the elements 8 and I0 are such that these elements may be shifted out of gear, that is, the shifting may be such that the elements 8 and I8 may be moved out of mutual co-operation.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make allsuch changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1; A farming implement for picking up and shredding surface trash, embodying a series of rotary driven elements for picking up trash at the front and delivering said trash, when chopped, to a predetermined location rearwardly of the implement, a series of co-operating stationary elements co-operating with the first named series of elements and acting as fulcrums forthe co' operating series of elements, some of said elements having cutting edges, and eccentric shiftable means operatively connected to one series of said elements to shift them eccentrically with respect to the other series of elements.

2. A farming implement for picking up and shredding material and comprising a support, A

l0 a plurality of normally stationary elements mounted resiliently on said support, and a plurality of rotary resiliently mounted ground engaging elements arranged for co-operation with respect to the other elements, some ofy said elements having lcutting edges, said rotary elements picking up the material directly from the ground and delivering it to the stationary elements to .be cut by said cutting edges.

3. A farming implement for picking up and shredding material and comprising a support, a plurality of normally stationary elements lmounted resiliently on said support, a plurality of rotary resiliently mounted ground engaging elements arranged for co-operation with respect to the other elements, some of said elements having cutting edges, and means to rotate said rotary mounted elements, said rotary elements picking up the material directly from the ground and delivering it to the stationary elements to be cut thereby.

4. A farming implement for picking up material lying on the surface of soil and delivering said material to position to be cut or shredded, said implement adapted to be propelled along the ground and embodying a frame, a shaft mounted in the frame, a plurality of adjustably mounted resilient rotary elements on the shaft for picking up the material from the ground vand delivering it to a predetermined position, normally stationary elements adapted for co-operation with the rotary elements and acting as fulcrums therefor, some of said elements having cutting edges, means to rotate the shaft upon which the rotary mounted elements are mounted when the implement is propelled, means to raise and lower the frame to adjust the rotary elements with respect to their position relative to the soil surface, and additional means between the shaft and the rotary elements to adjust some of said elements with respect vto said shaft, said rotary elements picking up the material on the front side and delivering it to the stationary elements to be cut and then discharging the cut material at the rear side.

rotatable elements acting as pick-up members, means for rotating said elements, normally stationary elements co-operating with the pick-up members and acting as fulcrums therefor, means mounting the last said elements for adjustment circumierentially with respect to the axis of rotation of the pick-up members, some of said elements having cutting edges whereby material picked up by the pick-up members is chopped 6 when brought into engagement with the normally stationary members, and resilient means individual to all of said members for securing them tov their support.

6. A farm implement embodying a plurality of rotatable elements acting as pick-up members,

means for rotating said elements, normally stationary elements co-operating with the pick-up members and acting as fulcrums therefor,` means mounting the last said elements for adjustment circumferentially with respect to the axis of rotav5. A farm implement embodying a plurality of tion of the pick-up members, some of said elements having cutting edges whereby material' CHARLOTTE RUBY SMITH SEARS. RICHARD W. SEARS. II.

8 REFERENCES cri-ED The following references are of record the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Brower May l, 1877 Adams Oct. 30, 1877 Forlow Apr. 16, 1878 Johnson Nov. 15, 1887 Gilmore Jan. -3, 1888 Goble Oct. 18, 1932 Seaman Sept. 10, 1940 Fiese Oct. 3, 1944 

